Why Jackal Is Trending
Jackal dropped on February 5, 2026 and immediately caught attention from Kotaku, Metacritic critics, and the Hotline Miami fan community. Developed solo by Transhuman Design, Jackal puts you in the role of a drug-enhanced hitman taking down the 1970s Las Vegas mob with ultra-violent, physics-fueled top-down combat. The game wears its influences openly — Hotline Miami, OTXO, I Am Your Beast, John Wick, Pulp Fiction — but brings enough of its own style to stand apart.
Metacritic reviewers note it "brings its own funkiness to the poker table" while Kotaku praised it as a game that "moves fast and feels great to play." The tight $14.99 price point and the pedigree of Transhuman Design (makers of older cult classics) make this one of the best indie action deals of early 2026.
Key Stats
Trending in the Steam — category with 25 concurrent players and Trending on Steam this week.
What Players Are Saying
✅ Reasons to Play
- Tight, fast, physics-fueled combat that feels great — movement and kills have genuine weight
- Dripping with noir style: 1970s Las Vegas setting, drug-powered abilities, John Wick meets Pulp Fiction atmosphere
- Excellent value at $14.99 — a polished, feature-complete indie with high replayability
❌ Things to Consider
- Shorter campaign (3-6 hours) — some players want more content for the price
- Adult themes: extremely violent with drug use as a gameplay mechanic — not for everyone
- If you've played a lot of Hotline Miami, some mechanics will feel very familiar
What the Community Is Saying
In essence, Jackal is the gameplay of Hotline Miami, with the presentation of I Am Your Beast set against the backdrop of the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Influences that Jackal wears on its sleeve proudly. Jackal is a little rough around the edges, the presentation is…
Short, sweet, and super fun. If you like: Hotline Miami, Anger foot, DEADBOLT. Then this is another one to add to the collection of ultra violent goodness. 7/10 Really solid
Not much to say. Hotline Miami was the best game ever. Hotline Miami 2 was an amazing sequel. This is Hotline Miami 3.
The gameplay is fun, the music is cool, and the weapons feel good. Everything feels smoother than the demo did and I didn't have any bugs. There are moments where it is a little hard to tell what is an obstacle you can walk though or shoot through from time to time, but nothing…
short but sweet, a cool little time waster for when life gets complicated and the weasels start closing in.
I don't like the specific level design where after you clean up the static enemies in a level, the game throws a bunch of gunmen at you. This happens in every level, and the reinforcements know exactly where you are. It feels repetitive and annoying when there aren't a lot of…
Should You Play Jackal?
Jackal holds very positive reviews on Steam with a 92% positive rating, well-received by the Steam community. It attracts 25 players at its recent 24-hour peak, showing strong player retention for a — title. Consistent updates and active developer engagement have maintained its strong reputation.
Jackal is reasonably priced at $14.99 on Steam, developed by Transhuman Design. Players who enjoy the — genre and want something currently trending on Steam will find Jackal worth checking out.
Should You Play Jackal?
Jackal holds very positive reviews on Steam with a 92% positive rating, well-received by the Steam community. It attracts 25 players at its recent 24-hour peak, showing strong player retention for a — title. Consistent updates and active developer engagement have maintained its strong reputation.
Jackal is reasonably priced at $14.99 on Steam, developed by Transhuman Design. Players who enjoy the — genre and want something currently trending on Steam will find Jackal worth checking out.
Is Jackal Worth Playing in 2026?
Is Jackal worth playing in 2026?
Yes — Kotaku called it "a very good and trippy Hotline Miami clone" that moves fast and feels great. At $14.99, it's a tight, well-crafted indie action game. If you love ultra-violent top-down shooters, Jackal absolutely delivers. Metacritic critics praised it for bringing its own unique style to a familiar formula.
Is Jackal similar to Hotline Miami?
Very similar in feel — it's clearly inspired by Hotline Miami, OTXO, and I Am Your Beast. But Jackal brings its own unique personality: the 1970s Las Vegas casino hotel setting, drug-powered special abilities, physics-based combat, and a noir pulp-fiction tone. Critics say it "brings its own funkiness to the poker table" rather than just copying what came before.
How long is Jackal?
Jackal is a compact, replayable experience. Most players finish the main campaign in 3-6 hours, but the procedural elements and high skill ceiling make multiple runs worthwhile. It's the kind of game designed to be mastered, with speedrunning and challenge seekers extending playtime significantly.
Does Jackal have a demo on Steam?
Yes! There is a free demo available on Steam (App ID 3133310) so you can try before you buy. The demo gives a solid taste of the core combat mechanics and 1970s Las Vegas atmosphere. Definitely recommended before purchasing if you're on the fence.
Is it free to play?
Jackal is a paid game on Steam. Check the Steam store page for current pricing and any active discounts.
How many people play Jackal?
Player counts for Jackal vary. It appears in TrendingGames.gg's top-1000 tracked games, indicating active Steam followers and community interest.
